Nova pulls local reality show in porn spat

Dispatch

PRAGUE — TV Nova’s “Milionovy par,” the Czech Republic’s first reality show, has been canceled after it emerged that two of the contestants had seedy pasts in skin flicks.

The marriage reality show aimed at family auds placed 12 men and 12 women in a house outside Prague, with the idea of finding a spouse. The last couple still in the house after elimination rounds was set to net 1 million Czech crowns ($39,511).

“Par” bowed in primetime Sept. 16 but only lasted four episodes. Host and producer Radek John urged execs at the dominant commercial broadcaster to pull his show after wannabe bride Ester Ladova surged in popularity amid news that she had made a porno video.

“Ladova winning a husband on the show would be an unacceptable message to send to the Czech nation,” he says.

Show spokesperson Johana Indrakova is incensed by the cancellation. Claiming that her show averaged a 1.5 million audience, Indrakova calls the decision “a scandal.”

One veteran Prague TV director expresses doubt at the viewership figures, observing there might be another explanation for the show’s collapse besides moral indignation at TV Nova, which has for years broadcast adult talkshows and weather forecasts with strippers.

“It hasn’t had great ratings,” the insider says. “The advertisers were not that satisfied.”